Ok To Ask? - Information for young people
Young people told us that being asked or sending nudes was an important issue in their lives. Asking, or being asked for an image is seen as common, but our research showed that often people do not want to ask, or be asked, and most people aren’t doing it.
It is not always easy to know what to do if you are considering asking, or have asked for, received, or sent a nude. Here are some things to consider if you find yourself in any of these situations:
- You do not have to send anything that you don’t feel comfortable sending. No matter what anyone else is telling you to do, telling you that they or others are doing. Remember that most people don’t ask for pics.
- Try and put yourself in their shoes. Would you really want to be asked that? How would it make you feel? Do you think they would want to be asked?
- Ask for advice from a trusted adult or friend. You may have heard that this is a common or acceptable behaviour. However, it is not only illegal, but young people have told us they do not want to be asked or send. It can reduce someone’s confidence, self-esteem if they are asked, and it can cause issues for friendships and relationships.
- Your image or ask could be shared with other people. Pause and think before you ask for or send something, once it is out, you have little control over who sees or hears about it.
- Remember there is free, judgement-free help and support available to you, no matter what situation you are in.
- If you have sent a message or image that you regret, you can ask for that message to be deleted and speak to someone you trust. If anything is shared, you can also report this to the relevant services.
We spoke to young people across Surrey and asked them for their views on the campaign videos and how Jess, Ryan and Jacob behaved in the situation. You can watch that conversation below.
Support services
If you are in a situation where you are under pressure to ask or send, or may have sent or shared a nude, you can report this directly to Surrey Police.
The following services can also offer you more information and free, judgment-free support.
For more information and support:
Childline is a free, confidential service for anyone under 19 to talk through any issue they are going through, at any time of day or night.
Young Minds is the UK’s leading young people’s mental health support charity.
STARS is a service within the Mindworks’ children and young people’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service in Surrey.
Shore is an anonymous service offering support for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour.
RASASC is a charity offering support for people over the age of 13 across Surrey who have had an unwanted sexual experience.
To remove an image or report:
Report Remove is a service provide by Childline helping under 18 year olds in the UK confidentially report sexual images of themselves and remove them from the internet.
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection website allows you to report online sexual abuse or inappropriate communication.